From the desk of Bob Meyer...
12/14/2010
Southern Barter Hosts Basketball Night
Kenn Flemmons, CEO of Southern Barter, will be hosting a
unique event for his clients and their families on January
8, 2011, at the University of Arkansas Little Rock�s college
basketball game. Planned are dinner and drinks, as well as
reception and admission to the game. (Derek Fisher of the
Los Angeles Lakers played his college ball for the
University.)
Southern Barter is a member of
www.NATEBarter.com.
Good Thoughts �
�It�s more important to know where you are going than to get
there quickly. Do not mistake activity for achievement.�
�Mabel Newcomer,
American economist.
�Our greatest weariness comes from work undone.�
�Eric Hoffer,
American writer and philosopher.
Holiday Cheer Waning For Small Businesses,
Per American Express
American Express Company�s Open Small Business Holiday
Monitor reports that only one in four small business owners
plan to give their staff end-of-year bonuses, the lowest
result in the poll�s history.
Small Businesses Doing Better From One
Perspective
Good news on one front � fewer small businesses declared
bankruptcy in the third quarter of the year. And the total
for the year to date remains slightly below 2009.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
12/07/2010
Jack Schacht�s
www.shopasyougive.com
Is Up
Jack
Schacht, former trade exchange owner located in Chicago,
built one of the largest and finest independent trade
exchanges in the United States. Since selling his operation
to IMSBarter, back some five or so years ago, he has moved
into another ambitious endeavor. You can see what that is by
going to his web site (above) where over 10,000 products are
available. A portion of every purchase one makes goes to
your selected charity.
Many Americans Still Doing Fine
One in 106
Americans is a millionaire according to a recent article in
Investopedia. And 31% of the world�s �high net worth
individuals� with a million in assets beyond their home live
on this continent. Experts say the key to building
prosperity is to be patient, and pay yourself first by
setting some money aside each month. Begin to save at a
young age and set goals and realistic plans�you do need a
road map.
Shredding The Plastic Continues
TransUnion,
a Chicago-based credit researcher says 8 million Americans
have cut up their plastic. The recession is the major
factor. There are now 78 million U.S. consumers who do not
have a credit card.
The
average U.S. credit card debt fell by more than 11% over the
past year, and delinquencies declined by nearly 25%. Both of
which are good signs.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
11/23/2010
Economist Sees An Age Of De-leveraging Upon
Us
Gary Shilling, a noted economist who predicted the demise of
the housing market long before anyone else, has authored a
new book, The Age Of De-leveraging. Essentially,
Shilling says we will see a decade of slow growth and
deflation. We�re not going back to the �salad days� of the
�80� and �90s. People are in a savings-spree mode and
therefore, he contends, big discretionary items such as
cars, houses, cruises, etc., will drop in price. Excess
capacity will be found worldwide in this new, changed
environment.
Tradesource Barter Expo Scheduled For
December 4
The Phoenix Convention Center is the site for the 24th
Annual Tradesource Barter Expo. The event will run from 11am
to 5pm on Saturday, December 4.
For more information call Mary Ellen Rosinski at (602)
996-1557 or go to
www.tradesoursce.net.
ITEX San Antonio Holiday Expo Slated For
December 2
This year�s holiday event will be held at the El Progresso
Hall on Thursday, December 2, from 5pm to 9pm.
Further details are available by calling (210) 281-1111
Online Barter Network For Artists & Designers
A new online barter network that focuses on artists and
designers is
www.OurGoods.org. It promotes the trading of skills,
space, labor and art objects. Monthly barter matchmaking
events are also scheduled.
No Vacation For 33% Of USA Workers
The Rasmussen Reports contends that the United States has
become a nation of workaholics, as 33% (one out of three) of
workers haven�t taken any time off this year, and less than
half planned to use all of their vacation time. (Of those
who plan to take vacations, most don�t totally unplug from
the office.)
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
11/16/2010
Online
Barter Network For Artists & Designers
A new
online barter network that focuses on artists and designers
is www.OurGoods.org. It promotes the trading of
skills, space, labor and art objects. Monthly barter
matchmaking events are also scheduled.
Assets That Are In A �Bubble� Category
(Besides Real Estate)
The
president of the Minnesota Federal Reserve recently
published a paper wherein he suggests other bubble assets
are lurking out in the global economy.
Here is
his list: gold, real estate in China, alternative energy,
commodities, Apple Computer (AAPL), social networking,
emerging stock market, small tech companies, U.S. dollar,
and U.S. government debt.
West Coast & East Coast ITEX Holiday Trade
Shows Scheduled
The
largest barter holiday trade show held on the West Coast
will be held at the Fairplex in Pomona (CA) from 9am to 4pm
on Sunday, November 21. For further details call
800-400-4294.
The East
Coast location for the ITEX trade show will be at Amarante�s
Sea Cliff in New Haven (CT). For further details call
888-294-6393.
TradeAmericanCard Expo Slated For December 4
Saturday,
December 4, is the date for the 35th TAC annual
Holiday Barter Expo. The location will be the Business Expo
Center, next to Angels stadium, from 10am to 3pm. For more
information call 714-532-3500.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/19/2010
IMS
Holiday Barter Expo�s Announced
Twelve
different Holiday Barter Expo�s will be held this year by
IMS Barter. The first is scheduled for Saturday, October 16,
in Chicago. The final one will be staged Thursday, December
9, in Las Vegas. All shows are open to the public.
For the
complete list of cities and dates
click here.
BizXchange
Continues On Fast Growth Track
Seattle-based BizXchange has been named to the Puget
Sound Business Journal�s list of Washington�s 100
Fastest Growing Private Companies, listed at #13. It�s the
fourth of six consecutive years BizXchange has been named to
the list.
For more
information
click here.
Advertising Industry Landscape Shifting Dramatically
The larger
advertising agencies are feeling the competitive heat from
small-shop advertising and marketing entrepreneurs.
Tightened budgets have prompted many advertisers to scale
back their needs and boost their reliance on freelancers,
contracted for individual projects on an as-needed basis.
New York City (NYC) Attracting World�s
Powerful & Wealthy
One of the
country�s leading international attorney�s, NYC-based Edward
A. Mermelstein (offices in NYC and Moscow), says foreign
investors are channeling funds into the American market in
hopes of cashing in on �American On Sale� before the deals
have dried up.
He noted
the recent purchase of a NYC home for more than $44 million
by Mexico�s billionaire Carlos Slim, as well as Russian
billionaire (and new owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA team)
Mikhail Prokhorov who has established a business base in
NYC. Over the past two years Mermelstein has arranged
hundreds of deals for foreign buyers.
Oakley Provides Sunglasses To Chilean Miners
The famed
eyewear, and later sporting equipment, Oakley is at it
again. As noted in earlier editions of the Tuesday Report,
founder Jim Jannard who launched the company with $300 in
1975, routinely used barter to promote and build his
company�s cach� in the marketplace. (One of his first
efforts saw the company providing star athletes like Michael
Jordan with a nice supply of Oakley sunglasses.)
Oakley,
now owned by Luxottica, provided high-performance
wrap-around sunglasses ($180-a-pair Radar Range sunglasses*)
to the 33 Chilean mine workers who were being pulled to the
surface on Wednesday (10-13-10), after 69 days stuck almost
a half-mile underground.
*
The donated Radar sunglasses with black iridium lenses,
usually used for high-performance sports designed to
specifically minimize ultraviolet light, were needed to
avoid retina damage because of the sudden change in lighting
after so much time underground.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/12/2010
Small Business Loans Now Easier To Obtain
The $30
billion Small Business Job Act just signed into law should
make getting a bank loan easier because it is earmarked for
small community banks and credit unions. And that money is
available for SBA guaranteed loans where the federal
government guarantees 90% of the loan.
Plus, the
one big change in the law is the expansion of the SBA�s
micro-lending programs from $35,000 to $50,000. (The typical
micro-loan is $13,000) The SBA micro-lending is at an
all-time high ... in the past 12 months the agency approved
$16.84 billion for 54,826 small business loans.
New Employee Hiring Greater Among Large Firms
The
National Federation of Independent Business�s Optimism Index
reports that only 8% of small business owners plan to
increase staff. By contrast, 31% of larger firms plan to
hire, according to the Business Roundtable CEO Economic
Outlook Survey of leading U.S. companies. (Both studies were
released in September.)
New Trend In Workforce
For years
demographers warned that the aging of the Baby Boomer
generation would cause talent shortages and force companies
to beg Boomers to return in some capacity. Guess what? Since
the economic downturn a new trend has suddenly emerged,
which sees many employees now planning to delay retirement.
By one
government estimate, 93% of the growth in the U.S. labor
force from 2006 to 2016 will be among workers ages 55 and
older.
Day Spas Popularity Still Growing
Less time
and less expensive services push the growth of day spas. The
International Spa Association (a trade group) reports that
since 2007, day spas added 4,564 locations to now total
16,300 nationwide. And hotel owners added 465 spas to number
1,810. In the same span of time destination spas in the U.S.
fell to 79 from 80. (Destination spas typically charge
$5,000 and up for a one week stay.)
Selected
trade exchanges around the country have day spas as members.
Amazing Technology Keeps Expanding
The
world�s fastest computer, announced by Japan a few days ago,
is beyond comprehension. It is able to do 10,000 trillion
(10 quadrillion) calculations per SECOND.
The K
Computer, as it is known, will stitch together 80,000
processors, each equipped with eight cores for a total of
640,000 electronic brains. Such a machine can do remarkable
things. For example, running a simulation of how a beating
heart reacts to new medicine today takes about two years,
but the new machine would cut the wait time down to two
days.
It Only Happens Once Every 823 Years!
An
interesting fact about October 2010 is that it has 5
Fridays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays all in one month! This
happens once in 823 years. These are considered �money bag�
months, based on Chinese feng shui. Legend says pass the
bags to 8 good people and money will appear.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
10/05/2010
Universal Currency Sets Trading Record
The
International Reciprocal Trade Association�s �Universal
Currency� was used by trade exchange owners (for
inter-trading purposes) in a record amount for the month of
August, 2010. A total of $582,486 in goods and services were
exchanged using the UC platform.
According
to Ron Whitney, IRTA�s Executive Director, much of the
credit for the heightened trading activity was due to UC�s
international broker Patty Weston. Trade exchange owners,
worldwide, who desire to know more about the UC program
should call Patty.
For more
information phone 321-397-2050 or e-mail
patty@irta.com.
The Barter Network Supports Shriners
Hospitals For Children
Winter
Park (FL)-based Barter Network will again be providing
advertising to support and publicize the annual 86th
East-West Shrine Football Game, scheduled for national TV on
January 12, 2011. The game showcases the top college
seniors, and funds derived from the game benefit the
Shriners Hospitals For Children.
Charity Giving In USA & China
Forbes magazine reports that China had 64 billionaires in
US-dollar terms in 2009, second only to the United States
which is home to 403 billionaires. These interesting figures
also illustrated the difference in charity giving between
the citizens of the two countries.
Chinese
giving totaled $5 billion in 2009, according to China�s
Ministry of Civil Affairs. And Americans donated $303
billion to charity in 2009, according to Giving USA, an
organization that charts such information.
Foreigners Eyeing American Real Estate
One of
Japan�s largest home builders and developers (Sekisui House
Ltd.) has just acquired 500 acres in Texas, outside the city
of Houston. The message they�re sending is: �We believe in
the USA and in the growth of the real estate business.�
Reportedly
multiple investors from Australia and Canada have visited
the national Association of Home Builders� Washington
headquarters in recent months, inquiring which markets (and
where) are poised to recover first.
The New Normal On Investment Yields
Bill
Gross, 66-year-old cofounder of PIMCO Investments in 1971,
(and now the world�s largest bond fund with over $1 trillion
assets under management) says conditions have changed and
investors had better have more realistic expectations going
forward. Gross asserts that the days of leverage and
deregulation are behind us and much lower investment returns
will be the norm.
In
other words, look for returns of 2%-3% annually as the new
normal, not the historical standard of 8%-10%. So if you�re
putting away dollars for retirement, start contributing more
or plan on retiring at a later age.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
09/28/2010
IRTA Extends Convention Offer To October 8
The International Reciprocal Trade Association is extending
a discount offer for their upcoming convention. It�s an
effort to include as many attendees as possible for the
association�s 31st International Convention being
held in Pittsburgh, October 28-30.
To take advantage of a 25% discount go to
www.IRTA.com
for details and registration.
Radio Stations Can Enter Digital World With
Barter Assist
It�s an $11,000 cost for a radio station to convert to HD
Radio and it can be done on a bartered basis. Providing the
conversion assist is Citadel Media and iBiquity Digital
Corp., in exchange for media time on the respective station.
(Citadel Media is a content provider with 4,000 affiliates.
They are owned and operated by Citadel Broadcasting.)
Travel Business Rebound Provided By Business
Sector
Spending on airplane seats, hotel rooms and rental cars,
among other tourism and travel expenses jumped 3% at an
inflation-adjusted annual rate in the second quarter, while
the economy as a whole grew only 1.6%.
Much of the increase is fueled by businesses which reduced
employee travel during the darker days of the recession.
Commercial Real Estate Still Under Pressure
Like homeowners walking away from mortgaged houses that
plummeted in value, some of the largest commercial property
owners are defaulting on debts and surrendering buildings
worth less than their loans. And even more landlords are
expected to follow suit.
Of the $1.4 trillion of commercial real estate debt coming
due by the end of 2014, roughly 52% is attached to
properties that are underwater, according to debt-analysis
company Trepp LLC. (As the economic recovery sputters,
owners of struggling properties are finally realizing a big
property value rebound isn�t imminent.)
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
09/21/2010
Savers Penalized By Low Rates of Return
The
average return on interest-bearing deposit accounts slipped
to less than 1% (0.99) in July, according to Market Rates
Insight which tracks bank rates. It�s the first time its
measure has dropped below 1% since the 1950s, when it began
keeping such data.
As a
result, the amount of money on deposit at U.S. bank branches
fell during the first half of 2010 � which hasn�t happened
in nearly two decades. This indicates that people are
dissatisfied with how little interest can be earned from
their bank accounts.
These
ultra-low interest rates are penalizing people who paid down
their debts and are now trying to save. It�s also punishing
those who rely on the proceeds of their nest eggs to pay
their bills.
Pre-IRTA Convention Trade Show Expanded
The Green
Apple Trade Show scheduled for October 27, the day before
the International Reciprocal Trade Association Convention in
Pittsburgh, has registered another 18 exhibitors. The
expansion is the result of added interest from attending
trade exchanges desiring booth space for sales to attendees.
For more
information on IRTA and their convention
click here.
Home Improvement Store Says Barter Builds
Loyal Customers
Every
September for the past 10 years, Russ Christensen, the owner
of 4 Seasons Home Crafters home-improvement store on Grand
Haven Road in Norton Shores (MI), holds his annual
�Swap-A-Rama� event.
He barters
siding, windows, and home improvement work in exchange for
boats, RVs, real estate and even cattle � bringing in new
business. The results from this event is a whopping 250 home
improvement projects per year.
New Auction Model Introduced
A new
auction model, �Penny Auctions,� is rapidly becoming very
popular in the United States and Europe. Discounts of up to
85% off retail price have been reported.
For more
information
click here.
What Billionaires Are Buying These Days
In today�s
business environment, according to Byron Wien, things are
changing. And Mr. Wien should know, as he annually holds a
summer meeting for fifty wealthy individuals including ten
billionaires. At this year�s meeting Wien said the group was
decidedly pessimistic.
So what
are the billionaires doing with their money? They�re buying
vacant office buildings, farmland, and African investments.
Poverty Is Prevalent In USA
According
to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 54 million people (1
in 7 residents) living in poverty in 2009. Poverty is
defined as a single adult earning $10,830 in pretax income,
or earnings of $22,050 for a family of four.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
09/07/2010
Barter Workshop Scheduled
Connecticut�s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is
holding a 2-hour �Building Your Business With Barter�
workshop on September 15, in Middletown. Cost to attend is
$20.00.
Editor�s
note:
If such workshops were regularly held nationwide, we would
see greater use of this versatile business tool by the
business community.
New Trade Exchange Opens Up In Pueblo
Bob
Hunter, a native of Pueblo (CO) who was a chiropractor in
Northern California (and a member of a trade exchange there)
before he and his wife retired to Pueblo, has launched the
Southern Colorado Barter Club. Presently sixty businesses
constitute the membership, but Hunter�s goal is a thousand
members.
For more
information e-mail Hunter at
thebarterclub@gmail.com.
Worldwide Surge In Barter Activity Is Noted
Paul
Benson, the European managing director at Orion Trading (the
corporate barter company of Interpublic Group�s Mediabrands),
confirms, �In the past two years we have seen a surge in
barter in the UK and around the world.�
Orion is
the only global major agency-owned barter company with
offices in North and South America, Europe, Asia and
Australia. Mediabrands, the parent company, manages $30
billion in global media billings.
Economic Slump Tough On Aspiring
Entrepreneurs
Fewer
people are working for themselves since the recession began
� self-employment fell 13% in August to the lowest level in
eight years. There are now 8.68 million working for
themselves. These figures indicate the economic slump isn�t
supporting new entrepreneurs.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
08/31/2010
United Nations� Huge Multi-Billion Dollar
Barter Program
The United
Nations� �Oil for Food Program� occurred between 1995 and
2003. It enabled Iraq to barter $46 billion in oil for
needed staples like wheat, rice and other necessities.
Bill Gates Has A New Hero � It�s A Remarkable
Story
Bill Gates
was blown away by this guy and what he is accomplishing in
the world. It�s quite astounding, and is one reason why the
world continues to make progress despite the blunders of our
politicians.
Click here.
BizXchange Makes Inc. 5000 List Again
For the
fourth consecutive year, Seattle-based BizXchange has been
named as an �Inc. 5000� company by Inc. magazine,
which annually lists the fastest growing private companies
in the United States. This year BizXchange was listed #1093,
a jump of over 2,000 spots from the company�s listing
position in 2009.
For more
information on BizXchange
click here.
Greco�s Thoughts On Independent Restaurants
Closings
Last week
in our �From The Desk Of...� column we reported on the
closures of many independent restaurants across the nation.
Thomas
Greco Jr. provided us with his insights: �Regarding
restaurant closings, I think there�s been a trend in recent
years for restaurateurs to go for the upscale market �
fancy, sometimes weird, dishes at inflated prices, and
little or nothing on the menu for the less well endowed. The
ones that will survive are the ones that provide lots of
good, wholesome food at low prices that the
unemployed, retirees, and families can afford. The �good,
wholesome� part leaves out most fast food places, but their
low prices will continue to draw the crowds.�
Small Businesses Held Back By Real Estate
Bust
The
collapse of the residential real estate market has greatly
affected the small business community. Not only are about
20% of small business owners using (or have used) their
homes as collateral to obtain financing for their companies,
but 99% of the companies in construction and the real estate
business are defined as �small businesses.�
(Small
businesses are defined by their gross income or number of
employees.)
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
08/24/2010
5,202
Restaurants Are Throwing In Their Dish Towels
Thousands of restaurants are closing their doors �in
Southern California alone, nearly 1,000 more restaurants
closed than opened during the 12 months that ended in March.
Nearly all the closings were among independently owned
restaurants: small, family businesses that just couldn�t
hold on as customers held back on spending � which has
dropped about 20% from what was spent during the economic
boom. (And, independent restaurants are not utilizing trade
exchanges as much as they did 20 to 30 years ago in Southern
California.)
Nationwide, the number of restaurants dropped in 2010 for
the first time in more than a decade, falling 5,202 to
579,416 according to New York research firm NPD Group.
Gift Card Rules Updated � No Expiration For
Five Years
The latest update on the Credit Card Act applies to retail
gift cards for individual stores as well as cards with a
MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover logo that can
be used wherever those brands are accepted.
Balances now, beginning 8/22/10, cannot expire for at least
five years from the date of purchase, or from the last date
additional money was loaded onto the card. (If the physical
card expires before then, you may get the balance
transferred to a replacement card at no cost.)
When money is added to a card, both the new money and
existing balance will be good for another five years.
However, the new rules do not apply to reloadable prepaid
gift cards and cards that are issued as a reward or through
a promotion.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
08/17/2010
For 1 Billion People, A Dollar-A-Day Is
Survival
According
to the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization there
are now 1.02 billion people in the world existing on between
one and two dollars a day. (In the last year alone, 146
million were added to that list.) These figures are a pretty
staggering commentary on humankind�s desire to make the
world a better place.
The Trillion Dollar Shortfall � Public
Pensions
Look for a
future class war growing between retirees, who were once
state or municipal workers (with guaranteed monthly pensions
& benefits), and the have-not taxpayers who don�t have
generous pensions.
A study by
the PEW Center on the states shows an estimated $1 trillion
gap between what states promised workers in the way of
retired pensions, health care and other benefits, and the
money they have to pay for it. (Some economists say the
problem is three times the figure that PEW suggests.)
Correction On Last Week�s First Story ...
One of our
reader�s informed us that Czechoslovakia doesn�t exist any
longer, since the velvet revolution in the early 1990s when
they threw the Russians out. They are now two separate
countries: Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Is Your Idea A Good One?
How can
you tell if your new idea is a good one? Ask yourself this
question: Does your community care? Everyone has a
�community� of constituents � customers, users, readers,
clients, etc. Share your ideas liberally. If your community
engages with them (either for or against them), then you
know you�re onto something. If they don�t look twice, you
know that you either need to reconsider the idea or rethink
how you communicate it.
National PR Campaign Slated For Made In USA
Certificate/Seal
The
TransMedia Group of Boca Raton (FL) has been retained to
publicize �the seal that can heal.� The campaign will be
designed to build a nationwide awareness that doing business
with companies displaying the certificate (seal) will help
the economy and create more jobs.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
08/10/2010
Ginseng�s Used To Pay Off Some Debt
North
Korea is proposing to make a trade of ginseng to
Czechoslovakia, which will be used to pay off $500,000 of
their $10 million debt to the eastern European country.
(Ginseng is an herb with medicinal properties.)
Overstock.com To Work With Small Business Owners
Are you a
producer of a consumer product who�s looking for more
distribution?
Overstock.com and
O.biz
(Overstock�s b2b web site) is launching its �Main Street
Revolution Initiative� which will provide local businesses
with an avenue to national markets through its huge site.
For more
information see the video about this program by
clicking
here.
U.S. Technology Founders� Average Age Older
Than You Think
Bill Gates
and Steve Jobs were the exceptions. Most tech founders are
not teen-agers, and twice as many start ventures in their
fifties as they do in their early twenties. The average age
of American tech founders is thirty-nine.
Foreign-Exchange Market Almost $4 Trillion In
Daily Trading Volume
The global
currency-trading business is expanding dramatically,
according to key monetary authorities from around the world.
The strong growth puts the foreign-exchange market on track
to top a record $4 trillion in daily trading volume. The
volume growth is a result of the volatility and the real
end-users actively hedging their exposure.
Unger�s International Barter Exchange
Celebrates 20 Year
Ron and
Mary Unger, founders of IBE in Florida, have been serving
the business community of Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte
counties for the past two decades and are looking forward to
many more years of service. IBE is a member of the National
Association of Trade Exchanges
click
here.
For more
information on IBE
click
here.
Barter Theatre Provides Tickets In Exchange
For Volunteer Work
�Make a
contribution (volunteer a day�s work) to your community and
receive theatre tickets.� That�s the offer to the first 500
volunteers, from the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia.
Working From Home Continues Expansion
The
Telework Coalition, a non-profit advocacy group, reports
that some 35 million people work predominantly from home
today, compared with about 20 million in 2000.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
08/03/2010
What Really Matters In Life
Next time you�re feeling a bit low, or down and out even,
think about Augie Nieto�s situation � your perspective will
change quickly. Augie, 52, lives here in Southern California
. He�s now into his fifth year (3 years beyond the norm)
living with Lou Gehrig�s disease. He�s a former muscleman
and fitness machine pioneer who put the Life Cycle into
health clubs.
Being almost totally paralyzed hasn�t stopped him from
authoring two books, although he typed them using only his
toes. He also continues, untiringly, in his quest for a
cure. He and his wife have raised a record $23 million for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, research. He�s excited
about Molecule 00846, which has slowed the disease in lab
mice and soon could be ready for human trials.
Nieto�s perspective on life reinforces that what matters
isn�t what happens to you in life ... what really matters is
how you react to what happens in your life.
Entertainers Move Into Barter Industry
Because their entertaining business (singing & band) had
dropped off due to the economy, Donna and Bill Arnold have
recently chosen an additional path in their business life.
They�ve acquired an ITEX franchise in Pennsylvania.
Over One-Third Of New Jobs Are Temporary
So far this year the private sector has added 593,000 jobs,
according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and a little
more than a third of them, or 218,000, have been temporary
jobs. The message: Employers continue to prefer the
flexibility that temporary workers provide.
Top Consumer Complaints Are Related To The
Economy
�Yes, it�s the economy, stupid� � that�s the story from
today�s consumers. Bogus offers to save homes from
foreclosure was the #1 consumer complaint last year. Others
included complaints about aggressive collection practices,
debt settlement, and other type of debt relief services and
job scams. Virtually all were related to our struggling
economy.
Continental Airlines Turnaround Was Employee
Buy-In
Continental Airlines says the company�s turnaround was the
result of their employees �buying-in� to the company�s
changes. Continental instituted bonuses for perfect employee
attendance, giving away fancy SUVs as rewards. While the car
giveaway cost $700,000, the airline saved $70 million in
sick leave. (The greater attendance enabled Continental to
provide greater customer service and satisfaction.)
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/27/2010
U.S. Economic Recovery Requires Spending,
Expert Asserts
Sy
Harding, president of Asset Management Research Corp., says
lots of cash not being spent will choke off the U.S.
economic recovery. Harding reports that American households,
afraid of the stock market and real estate, are sitting on
almost $8 trillion in cash (in money markets and CDs).
Likewise,
Harding says that corporations are not spending their cash
flows on new factories and equipment. Instead they�re
hoarding it. America�s non-financial corporations are
sitting on $1.84 trillion in cash, the highest percentage of
their total assets in almost fifty years.
United States Ad Market Compared To China�s
Interpublic�s media agency Magna Global reports that the
U.S. ad market revenue will increase 3.4% this year to
$138.9 billion, with Internet advertising growing 13% to
$25.7 billion. China�s ad market is expected to grow 14.4%
this year to $21.1 billion, with Internet growth up 25% to
$2.5 billion.
India�s Largest Auto Builder Signs
Interesting Barter Agreement
Tata
Motors, India�s largest auto maker, will provide 1,800 new
cars to the organizers of the Commonwealth Games. The cars
will be used to transport officials and athletes during the
12-day sporting event. In exchange they�ll be receiving
recognition and various advertisements in return. At the end
of the Games the vehicles will be returned and sold as used
cars.
Banking & Small-Business Disconnect Should
Lead To More Barter Activity
An
interesting scenario has evolved for the small-business
owner these days, due to property (real estate) and
equipment assets which are falling in value. Now, in
addition to these assets banks are asking for additional
collateral � cash � in the form of a certificate of deposit
or an escrow account, that can essentially guarantee the
loan in case of a default. How much longer will it take for
the small-business sector to realize the immense value of
using alternative, secondary currencies such as barter?
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/20/2010
NuBarter & Barter Brokers International Plan
To Merge
Savannah
(GA)-based NuBarter and Charleston (SC)-based Barter Brokers
International have announced their tentative plans to merge
by mid-August. NuBarter was founded in 2002 and Barter
Brokers International started in 1994.
For more
information on these two Southeastern barter companies,
their area coverage and plans for the future go to
www.NuBarter.com and
www.BarterBrokers.com.
The Barter Company Makes Extensive Upgrades
To Web Site
One of the
largest independent trade exchanges in the country is
Atlanta-based The Barter Company. With 2,000 clients in the
Southeast, founder and president Ric Zampatti has recently
made an extensive upgrade to his company�s web site.
Prominent
on the home page is a scrolling billboard with the latest
news. Additionally there are six videos, showcasing specific
examples of clients utilizing the services of the trade
exchange to build their businesses.
To see it
all
click here.
They�re At It Again � Are You Surprised?
Wow. The
financial institutions are wooing borrowers again who might
not be able to pay. Yes, credit-card issuers mailed 84.8
million offers of plastic to U.S. subprime borrowers
in the first six months of this year. That�s almost double
the 43.2 million sent a year earlier, estimates research
firm Synovate.
Venture Capital Money Drying Up
Many trade
exchange owners remember the year 2000 during the dot.com
boom, and the venture capital money that was being thrown at
owners during those heady days. For example, in just the
second quarter of 2000 an astounding $33 billion was raised
by the venture capital firms. In the recent 2010
second-quarter, U.S. venture capital funds raised just $1.9
billion, according to research firm Preqin.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
07/13/2010
Barbados Government Barters For 20% Ownership
Stake In Four Seasons Hotel
The Four
Seasons Barbados is restarting construction (in September)
after the Barbados government agreed to guarantee a
Caribbean bank $60 million construction loan for the
110-room hotel with 35 for-sale villas. In return for the
loan guarantee the government received a 20% ownership
stake.
TeleTrade International Announces Trading
Volume
According
to 39-year barter veteran Gary Lasater, CEO of TeleTrade
International, his worldwide platform did a second-quarter
trading volume of $33,368,716.
For more
information
click
here.
Banks Selling Gold To Take Advantage Of High
Prices
Banks are
selling gold at a record rate, according to a 216-page
report released last week by the BIS (Bank for International
Settlements � the central bank for central banks). The
international agency has purchased 349 metric tons of gold
since December, allowing banks to raise a record $14
billion.
Facebook Creates
Virtual Currency
Facebook
is working with MOL Global, a Malaysian online-payment
company, to sell �Facebook Credits� through prepaid cards.
In essence the partnership makes the purchasing of Facebook
Credits a virtual currency. The credits will be used to buy
online games and applications on the social-networking site.
These
credits will be able to be acquired through MOL�s network of
more than 500,000 outlets, such as 7-Eleven stores and cyber
cafes. As the virtual currency effort expands it will add
value to the Facebook brand�s valuation.
Americans Catching Up On Bills
Good news
� the number of consumers behind in their credit card
payments fell to an eight-year low in the first quarter of
2010, according to the American Bankers Association. They
report that a mere 3% are delinquent on their payments.
Top
From
the desk of Bob Meyer... 07/06/2010
People With Money Are Happier, Poll Shows
The Gallup
World Poll surveyed 136,000 people across 132 nations from
2005 to 2006 and it shows that income is more highly
correlated to happiness than previously thought.
Essentially, the study concluded that money is an object
that many (or most) people desire and pursue during the
majority of their waking hours. And they use their financial
success as a measure of overall success and a reference for
how �good� their lives are.
That
doesn�t mean money makes everything better. The study found
that income had less correlation to the more emotional
enjoyment of life, which include things like laughing, joy,
and connections to family and friends.
You Have 168 Hours ... Per Week
Want to
get the most out of life? Author Laura Vanderkam, a
thirty-something Manhattanite, says you must begin thinking
like a company, leveraging your core competencies and
exercising clarity of strategic intent to achieve greatness.
She urges parents to engineer relaxed evenings and to spend
high-impact time with kids.
She
attempts, in her book 168 Hours, to guide us toward a
better awareness of time and how to manage it. We have more
time than we think: Subtract 56 weekly sleeping hours (eight
a night) and 50 hours for work and you still have 62
unscheduled hours each week. Of that, she reveals that
husbands and wives talk to each other a mere 12 minutes
daily!
Americans Optimistic About Personal Finances
In The Future
The Pew
Research Center�s Social & Demographic Trends Project
reports that nearly a third �32%� of 2,967 adults surveyed
in May said they had lost their job at some point during the
current recession, which began in December 2007. Those
surveyed, however, were optimistic going forward, with 62%
saying they think their personal finances will improve in
the next year.
Growth Of Emerging Economies Good For USA
The
largest of the world�s emerging economies (Brazil, Russia,
India and China) have advanced their global GDP (global
domestic product) share to 15% from 7% since 1995. And their
relative economic expansion has come at the expense of
Europe and Japan � but not the Unites States.
Fifteen
years ago, the U.S. accounted for 25% of global GDP. Today
it�s still 25%. Europe�s share however, has fallen to 21%
from 25%, while Japan�s has plummeted to 9% from 18%. What�s
more, this emerging market prosperity is advantageous as the
emerging economies� increasing domestic demand(s) translates
into a larger market for U.S. goods and services.
Top
|
|
From the desk of Bob Meyer...
06/29/2010
Number-One Obstacle To Retirement
In a
recent study commissioned by Scottrade, for 63% of
Americans, debt was an impediment to retirement savings in
2009. And 61% of Americans expect debt to limit retirement
savings in 2010. Strategies to climb out of debt include:
Stop
borrowing;
Save
first, especially if a company match for 401(K)
contributions is offered;
Scale down
your budget;
Plan for
the unexpected � set up an emergency fund;
Plan for
the expected � a yearly vacation, wedding, etc.
NATE Sets Up Facebook Page
Gary Oshry,
The National Association of Trade Exchanges President,
announced that his organization now has a Facebook page for
NATE and BANC members. Go to:
www.facebook.com/natebarter.
Billionaire Softbank Founder Looks Ahead
Japan�s
Softbank CEO/founder Masayoshi Son, 52, with an estimated
net worth north of $5 billion and one of Japan�s most famous
entrepreneur�s who built the company into Asia�s biggest
Internet group, recently spoke to thousands of shareholders
and fans. He laid out his plans and bold targets for the
next 30 years which includes a goal of being one of the
world�s 10-biggest companies by market capitalization by
2040. It�s a goal he estimates would require it to be valued
at $2.24 trillion (currently they�re valued at $30 billion).
To reach
that goal Softbank plans to take stakes of between 20% and
40% in some 5,000 affiliated companies by 2040, up from
about 800 such partnerships now. Laying out a broad
management philosophy, Son said Softbank isn�t wedded to any
single technology or single business model. He sees
everything from eye glasses to sneakers being connected to
the web ... glasses, he suggested, could accurately
translate foreign languages in real time and then display
what a person speaking a different language was saying with
subtitles on the lenses.
Amanda Smith Joins ITEX Brokers Board
Long-time
California ITEX broker Amanda Smith, (she operates in the
Palm Springs and Temecula areas), has been named to the ITEX
Brokers Association Board of Directors.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer... 06/22/2010
UCLA Study Concludes Slower Economic Growth Ahead
UCLA�s Anderson School of Management foresees that growth
for the U.S. economy will be slower than previous postwar
recessions, due to fewer new-home purchases and lower
spending by cash-strapped local and state governments.
Annual growth for 2010 through 2012 will be around 2.9%,
compared to the average 5% rate during the recovery periods
after the past eleven recessions since WWII. The report also
noted that unemployment will fall only by 1% over the next
two years to around 9%.
Sharon Connelly Named To NATE Board
Sharon Connelly, Vice President of Exchange Enterprises in
Stratford (CT), will be on the Board of Directors for the
National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE). Ms Connelly,
a 13-year veteran in the barter industry, stated she is
honored to be selected to the board and looks forward to
contributing and serving her industry peers through NATE.
For more information on NATE
click
here.
For more information on Exchange Enterprises
click here.
Barter Network Announces Major Move
The Barter Network (TBN) has moved their Winter Park
corporate office to a new standalone office building.
Founded in 2004, Florida-based TBN serves 700 clients.
For more information on TBN
click here.
Stunning Growth Of U.S. Federal Debt
The U.S. federal debt has increased dramatically in the past
18 months � from 38% ($5.5 trillion) of the nation�s gross
domestic product in September 2008 to 59% ($8.6 trillion) in
June 2010.
Alan Greenspan, former Fed Chairman, says the U.S. and most
of the rest of the developed world is in need of a tectonic
shift in fiscal policy. Greenspan believes it�s mandatory to
see spending cuts, but no large tax increase, if the country
is to turn itself around.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer... 06/15/2010
Americans Slowly Rebuilding Wealth
American
households� net worth is inching back. But economists say
it�ll be 2012 or 2013, at best, before Americans� wealth
will return to pre-recession levels. Net worth � the value
of assets like homes, bank accounts and investments, minus
debts like mortgages and credit cards � now amounts to $54.6
trillion. The pre-recession net worth peak was $65.9
trillion.
IMS Appoints Treasurer/CFO
International Monetary Systems has appointed David A. Powell
as Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. Powell is a CPA
with 10 years experience in public accounting and more than
15 years experience in a variety of senior financial
positions with a number of companies.
For more
info on IMS
click
here.
Unique
Promo For Spurring On Salespeople
For larger
companies, playing-card decks can be customized with the
face of different people within your organization. Imagine
the trophy value of a deck of cards using pictures of the
top salespeople, with a couple of jokers thrown in. This is
one keepsake they would never throw away!
Company
card decks are available through Corporate Incentives at
(607) 724-6941.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer... 06/08/2010
Private Equity Manager Warns Of Liquidation
Deluge
Pete
Briger of the Fortress Investment Group (he oversees
Fortress�s $9 billion distressed-investment portfolio)
recently gave a keynote address to his peers at the
SuperReturn U.S. Confab held in Boston.
In his
address Briger said the improved environment is, in effect,
a charade, with everyone from central banks to large
financial institutions �in cahoots� to boost lending markets
and consumer confidence. He predicted the next five years
will be an embarrassment of riches for high-end trash
collectors like himself.
To
underscore the scope of the opportunity, he posted a slide
showing that financial institutions (AIG, Lehman Brothers,
and others) have announced over $1.6 trillion of asset
dispositions since the financial crisis. He concluded that
there are $5 trillion to $10 trillion of distressed
financial-asset sales to come.
Church Barter-Board Assists Congregation
Faith
United Methodist Church in North Knoxville (TN) provides a
barter-board for members to post goods or services they
would like to receive and what they�re willing to give in
exchange.
Hotel Industry Begins Recovery
The U.S.
lodging industry is moving forward, according to an industry
forecast from PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Hotels should be able
to start increasing room rates in 2011, as hotels are
starting to see an uptick in demand after two consecutive
years of decline. Average daily room rates are expected to
increase 3.5% in 2011.
Top Jobs In The Coming Years
The U.S.
Labor Department�s 10-year forecast for demand, pay, and
competition for more than 300 jobs in 45 categories has been
released. Succinctly, in the coming decade engineering is
expected to offer the fastest-growing area � biomedical
engineering. Jobs in this field are anticipated to grow by
72%. (Health care dominates the list of the fastest-growing
jobs, capturing 11 of the top 20 slots.)
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer... 06/01/2010
Gift-Tax Exclusion Good Estate-Planning Option
One of the best estate-planning options remains the $13,000
annual gift-tax exclusion. Anyone may give another person up
to that amount per year in cash or property, free of gift
taxes.
One partner of a married couple can double the gift and the
exemption. So a couple with three married children and six
grandchildren could give away over $300,000 a year,
tax-free.
Legendary Investor�s Advice
Seth Klarman, president of the Baupost Group, an investment
firm in Boston that manages $22 billion in assets, says one
of the best ways to protect against a decline in purchasing
power is to buy whatever is �out of favor, loathed and
despised.�
He says forget about gold or other trendy hedges. His three
private partnerships have returned an average annual yield
of about 19% since inception in 1983 � and nearly 17%
annually over the past decade when stocks were going
nowhere.
Creditcard Issuers Charging More Than
Consumer Credit Cards
Over the past six months, American Express, Bank of America,
Capital One, Citi and Wells Fargo, have raised interest
rates for new small-business creditcards offered on the
Internet roughly six times faster than rate increases on
consumer cards, according to
BillShrink.com, a consumer help site that tracks
creditcard offers.
On average, interest rates for small-business cards were
13.7% higher in April than last October, while rates for
consumer cards, on average, were just 2.4% higher.
IMS Annual
Shareholder Meeting Scheduled
International Monetary Systems (OTCBB:ITNM) has scheduled
its annual meeting for Thursday, June 17, at the Sheraton
Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel. Shareholders as of May 7 will be
eligible to vote on the business presented as well as the
election of three directors.
For more information
click
here.
More People Thinking Of Owning A Business
According to a recent consumer survey conducted by the
software-maker Intuit, about one in five people (17%
actually) interviewed have actively worked on starting their
own business in the past year. Intuit says the web has made
it cheaper and easier than ever to turn your favorite hobby
into a business.
College Grads Facing Tough Job Market
College graduates in 2010 are facing a tough job market. The
vast majority of states in the U.S. had higher unemployment
rates this past April than a year earlier, according to the
Labor Department.
An Expanded New Business Deduction
The tax laws are constantly changing. For example the HIRE
Act, passed in March 2010, raised the first year expensing
limit for equipment purchases made in 2010 to $250,000. (The
limit that had been set for 2010 prior to the new law change
was $134,000.)
Profitable small businesses that need machinery, equipment,
furniture and computers, can write off the cost in the year
of purchase, rather than having to depreciate the cost over
a number of years. Entrepreneurs should work with a CPA or
other tax advisor to stay abreast of new deductions that
will enable them to save on small business taxes.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer... 05/25/2010
IMS Barter Makes Presentation At Small Cap
Virtual Conference
International Monetary Systems� (OTCBB:ITNM) CEO Don Mardak
presented the IMS corporate overview and company update, as
well as a look into the future, at the Source Capital Group
Small Cap Virtual Conference on May 18 & 19.
Entrepreneurs Very Cautious In This Economic
Environment
The
National Federation of Independent Business reports capital
expenditures among small businesses are nearly at a 35-year
record low (which was established in December 2009). Only 4%
of business owners characterized the current period as a
good time to expand facilities.
Such
statistics indicate small business owners recognize the need
to be cautious now. This economic crisis is far from over,
so prudence is a virtue that entrepreneurs should strive
for.
U.S. Home Prices Will See Gradual Recovery
A survey
of 92 economists and analysts by MacroMarkets, expect U.S.
home prices will begin a gradual recovery by next year. The
analysts on average foresee home prices rising about 12% in
the next five years, ending December 31, 2014
Federal Revenues Are Disappointing
The U.S.
Government has forecast a $1.6 trillion deficit for the
current fiscal year, which began October 1, 2009. In April,
the Congressional Budget Office reported corporate tax
receipts were up 8.9% to $77 billion. Individual income tax
revenue was down 11.6% in the first seven months to $500
billion.
Small Nonprofits Can Be Stripped Of
Tax-Exempt Status
An
estimated 214,000 small nonprofits have not yet filed a form
called 990-N to the IRS. Those that did not meet the May 17
filing deadline will now lose their tax-exempt status.
Something they may not learn about until 2011, when they
discover they have to pay taxes on donations that they
previously thought were exempt.
The change
in the tax code was made three years ago, requiring
nonprofits that report $25,000 or less a year in income,
excluding churches, to file the form. Nonprofits that lost
their tax-exempt status can eventually get it back, after a
long reinstatement process that also includes an $850 filing
fee.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer... 05/18/2010
�60 Minutes� Reports On Homeowners Getting
Unshackled
On Sunday,
May 9, �60 Minutes� featured Morley Safer exploring the
growing trend in the U.S. that sees homeowners who can
afford their house payments, choosing not to pay. Instead
they are making the decision to �walk away� from their home
because the valuation has dropped dramatically.
According
to Safer, �The decision to walk away from the sinking home,
by people who can afford to pay, is spreading like a virus.�
There is now a web site (www.youwalkaway.com)
that urges homeowners who are underwater to unshackle
themselves from their mortgages and, for a fee, shows them
how to default on purpose.
Full Job Recovery Expected By 2018
A Cal
State Long Beach economist says the country may not return
to pre-recession employment levels for eight more years.
Joseph Magaddino, chair and professor of economics at the
California university, noted that the country has lost 8.4
million jobs during the recession. So far this year, it has
created about 600,000 jobs.
But with
population growth alone, the U.S. needs 1 million new
positions to just stay even. If 2 million new jobs are
created each year, half of those will go to normal growth,
leaving only 1 million new positions to be filled by those
who are out of work. At that rate, it will be 2018 before we
get rid of the deficit in jobs.
Tax Break For Employers Also Benefits
Employees
Employers
can make awards to workers valued as much as $400 a year for
good attendance, safe driving, years of service, and so on.
The criteria must be objective and fair, but the awards
aren�t taxable to the employee and are fully deductible by
the employer.
Trade Exchange & Business Network Sponsors
Free Movie Night
�The
Friends In Business Network� (TFIBN) is the marketing arm of
the ITEX network in San Diego. The two entities are
sponsoring a free movie night on the last Tuesday of every
month.
For more
information
click here.
Correction On April 27 Announcement
In our
April 27 edition of
From The Desk Of..., we reported a web site where
Bartercard members can purchase real estate. That site,
we�ve been informed, is not operated by Bartercard.
The
official Bartercard site, which has the real estate section,
is
www.Bartercard.com.au.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer... 05/11/2010
Correction On April 27 Announcement
In our
April 27 edition of �From
the desk� I reported a web site where Bartercard
members can purchase real estate. That site, we�ve been
informed, is not operated by Bartercard. The official
Bartercard site, which has a real estate section, is here:
www.Bartercard.com.
Barter Software Changes Designed To Increase
Trading
BCL Soft
has released an update for their Barter 21 trade exchange
management software. The new design�s goal is to increase
trading activity within an exchange. Going against the norm,
the new effort sees a substantial reduction in the number of
categories thereby making each heading broader.
For more
information on the Barter 21 software
click here.
Women Gain In Marketplace, Politics &
Financial World
History is
rushing forward for women. Today more women than men are
graduating from high school, college, and graduate programs
in the United States. Consider that:
�
Women hold
49% of all non-farm jobs and 51% of all management
professional and related positions.
�
About 40%
of U.S. firms are women-owned.
�
The number
of women earning $100,000 or more tripled between 1991 and
2001.
�
Women
control 51.3% of the nation�s private wealth.
Online Coupons See Incredible Growth
Coupons
made a comeback in 2009, according to a Nielsen report, as
redemptions grew by 27%. However online coupons, saw a huge
increase in growth � rising 263%! Retailers are increasingly
using their web sites, in-store kiosks, and smart-phones to
get coupons into customers� hands.
How Homeowners Can Earn Tax-Free Income
Homeowners
who rent out their property for 14 or fewer days a year may
pocket the income tax-free. The property doesn�t have to be
a first home, but the exemption can be taken only once a
year.
U.K. Automobiles Are Tops With Wealthy USA
Consumers
According
to the Luxury Institute, the United Kingdom-manufactured
Rolls-Royce is the top-rated ultra-luxury vehicle brand
among wealthy USA consumers. Tied for second place, in the
national survey of 505 nationwide consumers with a weighted
average-household income of $845,000, were Bentley and
Maybach.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer... 05/04/2010
Barter On The Minds Of Business Owners
A recent
survey by Pitney Bowes showed that 33% of businesses would
barter with their customers/suppliers/employees if their
firm�s financial situation were to decline or remain flat in
the next six to twelve months.
Only two
categories barely nosed out the 33% bartering notation �
both at 34% � which were laying off employees and changing
the products/services offered.
BarterBook Seeks New Marketing Techniques
BarterBook
is looking at new ways to market trade exchange memberships
with the help of VirtualBarter�s software. BarterBook will
resemble the look and feel of Facebook, the popular social
networking site.
Members of
BarterBook will have the option to refer friends to join the
social bartering network, as well as providing products and
services to barter.
For more
information on BarterBook
click
here.
For more
information on VirtualBarter
click
here.
Riggs Likes Social Network Idea Too
Annette
Riggs, Managing Director of The Community Connect Trade
Association located in Westminster (CO), is looking to use
social networks to spread the barter message virally.
For more
information
click here.
New Land
Rush By U.S. Home Builders
Across the
U.S., home builders are battling to acquire land lots in
preparation for ramping-up home construction. According to
Greg Vogel, chief executive of Land Advisors Organization, a
national land brokerage firm based in Scottsdale (AZ), the
best-located lots are commanding double what they would have
a year earlier.
Builders
are particularly interested in finished lots � land with
improvements such as sewers and streets in place, allowing
for homes to be constructed quickly.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer... 04/27/2010
Bartercard�s Real Estate Site
The
world�s largest trade exchange, Bartercard with headquarters
in Australia, has a separate web site for real estate offers
that its members can access. All real estate offered on the
site must accept 20% of the sales price in Bartercard trade
dollars.
For more
information
click here.
Lauren Pound New NATE Banc Broker
The
National Association of Trade Exchanges� (NATE) Board of
Directors has retained the services of Lauren Pound to
provide the following duties for the organization: Banc
brokering of the NATE Intercity Currency, convention
planning, Sales Genie training, as well as providing
assistance to the NATE Board of Directors.
Ms. Pound
has a degree in Mass Communications/Public Relations from
the University of Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State
University.
For more
information on NATE
click
here.
New
�In-House� Corporate Barter Unit For Havas Media
Havas
Media North America, the parent of MPG and Havas Digital,
has established an in-house unit to handle corporate barter
media deals. The new, yet-to-be-named unit was established
due to client demand, i.e. clients needing to liquidate
surplus inventories that can be converted into media.
Mike
O�Hara, formerly senior VP of sales at Omnicom�s ICON
International and executive VP of sales at Argent Trading,
will be the managing director of corporate trading,
according to Havas Media.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer... 04/20/2010
Whitney Prevails In North Carolina Effort
Last week�s Tuesday Report exposed the possibility of
North Carolina prohibiting attorneys from participating in
barter exchanges (providing their services through a trade
exchange) within that state. The commercial barter industry
quickly responded.
Ron Whitney, the International Reciprocal Trade
Association�s Executive Director, represented the barter
industry arguing the matter in front of the Ethics Committee
of the North Carolina Bar on April 15 and prevailed. The
State Bar is sending the issue back to the sub-committee for
further review and consideration. This will provide the
barter industry another six months to refine arguments for
ultimate success.
eValues Announces First Quarter Trading
Activity
The
eValues.net trading activity for the first quarter of
2010 was a reported $14.2 million. For more information on
the eValues system, designed for independent trade exchanges
to run their day-to-day operations, e-mail
gary@teletrade.net.
Top
From the desk of Bob Meyer... 04/13/2010
Steak N Shake To Make Name Change
Texas investor Sardar Biglari is changing the name of his
Indianapolis cheeseburger chain from Steak N Shake to
Biglari Holding, Inc. Mr. Biglari has plans to diversify
outside of the restaurant industry. You may remember that
over a year ago Biglari fell short in a takeover effort to
obtain ITEX � the nation�s largest barter company.
Trades Of The Month From 1999 ...
Salaries Traded
For Stock
A handful of senior executives at Border�s Bookstore have
traded their entire salaries and bonuses for stock options!
Airline Gates
Exchanged
Continental Airlines has traded five of its terminal gates
at LAX to United Airlines for several of their gates at
Newark�s airport.
DreamWorks Secures
Barter Deal With Wal-Mart
Instead of limiting itself to theater box offices,
DreamWorks studio unveiled a novel marketing deal with
Wal-Mart. Two movie ticket vouchers for their new movie
Prince of Egypt will be included in Wal-Mart�s $20 gift
packages with a storybook and CD of the movie songs.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer... 04/06/2010
Michigan Trade Exchanges Report Membership
Gains
The
Detroit News had an excellent write-up titled �With
Credit Tight, Firms Turn To Bartering.� Two well-known and
long term successful Michigan trade exchange operators were
quoted in the article.
Founder
and president Mike Mercier of Metro Trading Association
reports a 20%-plus growth in membership over the last year.
He said that many businesses have been hit hard by the
economy, and that�s especially true in Michigan. TradeFirst
president Fred Detwiler divulged similar success with his
company�s membership increases.
Book-Signing Debuts Barter Publication
Co-authors
Karen Hoffman and Shera Dalin have introduced their new
book, The Art of Barter: How To Trade For Almost Anything,
at a launch party in Clayton (MO). Hoffman was a former
Executive Director of the International Reciprocal Trade
Association, and prior to that a trade exchange owner. Dalin
was a former business reporter for the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch. The publisher is Skyhorse Publishing.
For more
information, phone 314-503-6376.
India�s Film Producers Embrace Barter
In India
small-film producers use �partner-like� marketing
relationships with newspapers, broadcasters, radio stations
and web portals. Through barter arrangements the producers
trade the principal currency they have � the content of
their film. Interviews, songs, sneak previews, and video
footage are offered in return for contests, events,
features, specials, and on-air mentions from the media
companies.
Computers On Barter In Boulder
A new
nonprofit organization, Boulder Community Computers (BCC),
is bridging the digital divide for low-income families and
reducing computer electronic waste as well.
The
organization collects and refurbishes old computers; then
makes them available on a barter basis in exchange for
volunteer time spent at BCC. The Colorado-based organization
also provides free computer classes and training for the
Boulder County community.
For more
on BCC
click here.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer... 03/30/2010
Newly-Formed Assembly Of Barter Announced
To date,
after an initial meeting in Istanbul, an �Assembly of Barter
Companies of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East� has been
formed. The Assembly will elect officers when they are
ready, but until then, each barter company owner will be a
director of the Assembly and ipso facto a spokesman for the
industry to his or her government and the public.
This
directorate will be the government body with Sirri Simsek
it�s elected chairman, and all members of the directorate
will be privy to all information involving the industry and
able to express themselves upon it. They�ve adopted the IRTA
Code of Ethics and there appears an affinity in Europe to be
associated with IRTA as part of a world barter federation.
(See �World Barter Federation� article below.)
BizXchange Moves Corporate Headquarters
BizXchange
president and CEO Bob Bagga announced his expanding company
has relocated its North American headquarters to Bellevue
(WA), as the need for larger space was needed. This was
evidenced by new membership growth of 30% and a 77% increase
in trade transactions during 2009.
BizXchange
now has offices in Bellevue, San Francisco, and Dubai.
For more
information on BizXchange
click here.
Car-2-Go Expands Bartering Project
German
automaker Daimler has expanded its barter enterprise that
was initiated last November with the city of Austin (TX).
The smart car-sharing pilot program is called Car-2-Go,
offering on-street premium parking space in exchange for
city employees� use of the vehicles. There is no cash
involved.
Recent
companies coming into the program include The State
Preservation Board and the Texas Council on Competitive
Government.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer... 03/23/2010
ITEX New England Expands To West Coast
The
Connecticut operation, now the largest franchise in the ITEX
organization, has ambitiously expanded its operations across
the country � all the way to San Diego. Jay Mininberg and
Roger Boroway acquired the ITEX San Diego office from barter
veteran Duncan Banner, who will now concentrate his energies
on his new ITEX franchise in Wichita (KS).
Housing Prices To Change After Fed Actions
Dick Bove,
a respected analyst with Rochdale Securities, projects that
home prices will drop across the nation when the Fed stops
buying mortgage-backed securities � which is slated to
happen March 31. Bove doesn�t foresee a sudden change to the
housing prices or mortgage rates, but over the longer term
house prices will drop, he contends, as the housing market
is less subsidized. Bove expects a price level to
materialize that will be 10% to 15% below today�s prices.
BizXchange Introduces New Blog
A new blog
is being posted by the ever-ambitious BizXchange. Titled
�Barter Savvy� its goal is to educate readers about the
business-to-business barter industry.
For more
information
click here.
Travel & Tourism Spending Drops
Expenditures on travel and tourism in the United States is
decreasing. Fourth quarter spending for 2009 was down 1.3%
from the year earlier, and off 5.7% from its third-quarter
2007 peak. The drop was driven by a 15.9% drop in spending
on air travel.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer... 03/16/2010
IMS Web Traffic Expanding
IMSBarter (OTCBB:ITNM) reports that in 2009, visits to its
web site (www.imsbarter.com)
increased 35% over the prior year (2008). The traffic
increase was fueled by the company�s nationwide membership
accessing important account information, reviewing new
offerings as well as shopping on their new online
marketplace.
Independent Hoteliers Urged To Barter
Jody Merl, CEO of Innovative Travel Marketing, was
interviewed last week by
www.4hoteliers.com. Merl explained in the interview
how the hotel industry, particularly independent hotel
operators, can barter for needed print media.
For more info on Innovative Travel Marketing
click here.
Now This Is Growth!
Twenty-five years ago (March 15, 1985) a computer company in
Cambridge (MA) registered the very first dot-com site.
Today, about a hundred-thousand sites are registered daily!
Banks Write-Off Record Credit Card Debt
Recent articles in the financial papers reported how
consumers were paying down their debts. Well, the actual
figures paint a different story.
According to an analysis by Federal
Reserve data, the bulk of 2009�s drop in consumer debt came
about because banks were forced to write-off loans people
failed to pay. Of the $93.2 billion drop in consumer card
balances, $83.27 billion were the aforementioned required
write-offs.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer... 03/09/2010
Too Many Garden Vegetables � Trade Them
Growing
vegetables? Have a surplus, more than your family can eat?
Then you might want to check out a new web site where you
can look into bartering your vegetables. On the site, listed
under �Community� and �Friends� are a list of other
community gardening organizations.
For more
info go to
www.veggietrader.com.
Mardak Interviewed On CNN Radio
Winston
Edmondson, CNN Radio host of �Innovations At Work,� recently
interviewed Don Mardak, CEO of IMS Barter. IMS Barter is a
national barter company in the U.S. with over 20,000
clients, and has offices from coast to coast.
To hear
the interview visit
www.imsbarter.com.
Bastarache
Advisor To Online Barter Company
Ray
Bastarache, founder of Barter Network in 1985 and
subsequently sold in 2000 to one of the dot.com barter
companies, has become a member of a new advisory committee
Barterquest.com has formed. Bastarache was a former
president of the International Reciprocal Trade Association.
Power Of Print, A $90 Million Campaign
Major
magazine publishers have embarked on a campaign with a
simple message that �Print rules!� Five leading magazine
publishers will provide nearly 1,400 pages of ads through
magazines including People, Vogue and
Ladies Home Journal this year.
Backing
the campaign are Time Warner�s Time Inc. Hearst, Advance
Publications� Cond� Nast, Wenner Media, and Meredith. The
ads were created by WPP�s Young & Rubicam.
The $90
million campaign figure is based on the public ad-rates for
each of the participating magazines, and is the largest
joint campaign effort ever by the publishers.
Entrepreneurs Continue Trimming Payrolls
The
payroll company Automatic Data Processing reports that
private-sector firms in the U.S. eliminated 22,000 jobs in
January, the 24th monthly decline in a row. While employers
of all sizes trim their work forces when the economy
suffers, small firms adopt the strategy sooner and more
aggressively as cash flow is paramount to a small business
to keep its doors open.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer... 03/02/2010
Mergers & Acquisitions Funded With Less Cash
A couple
of decades ago in 1977, a big percentage (77%) of U.S.
mergers & acquisitions were funded solely with cash,
according to Dealogic. But beginning in 2009 and so far this
year, cash is being used in only 40% of the deals. Instead
paper, in the form of company stock, has taken over as the
major means of funding M&A�s.
The most
recent example is Schlumberger�s $11 billion takeover of
Smith International, wherein Smith International is being
paid in stock.
Buffett�s Insights On Economy & Healthcare
Billionaire Warren Buffett sees the economy recovering at a
very low rate (his Berkshire Hathaway firm owns 80 different
businesses). He says healthcare costs are a major drain on
U.S. businesses, and needs fundamental reform because it�s
not practical to continue to devote 17% of the nation�s GDP
to health care. (Much of the world pays half that, or 9% of
their GDP on health care.)
Wine For Buses
Winery
owners in Macedonia have proposed to the government the
desire to enter into a barter deal with the Ukraine. They�d
trade a large surplus of wine reserves (accumulated due to
the global recession) for the country�s needed purchase of
buses.
Need More Funding. . .Check With Your Vendor
Strong
relationships are vital in landing financing. That�s why
more and more small business owners have been successful
with a group they already know well � their vendors.
According
to semiannual surveys from the National Small Business
Association in Washington, between 22% and 29% of business
owners relied on vendor credit to meet their capital needs
between August 2008 and December 2009.
U.S. Corporate CEO�s Express Confidence On
Recovery
The
Washington (DC) Business Council�s confidence gauge climbed
to 64.7 in February, the highest level in four years.
(Readings greater than 50 signal economic growth.) The
survey also found that 57% of executives had seen an
improvement in their industries in the last six months,
while about 61% expected gains to continue during the next
six months.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer...02/16/2010
NATE Schedules Convention In �Happiest City� In America
The National Association of Trade Exchanges
will hold its 2010 national convention in America�s
�Happiest city� � New Orleans. A city that has overcome the
devastation of Hurricane Katrina and most recently has been
celebrating the Super Bowl of their beloved professional
football team, the New Orleans Saints.
The convention will be hosted by the Crescent City Trade
Exchange.
For more information on NATE and the
convention see:
www.natebarter.com.
Major TV Shows Use Barter/Cash Combo For
Distribution
�The Ellen DeGeneres Show� is distributed on
a cash-plus-barter basis, in that TV stations push cash but
also give up a portion of commercial ad time in return for
the show. DeGeneres� show averages over 3 million viewers,
second only to Oprah Winfrey�s 7 million.
�The Nate Berkus Show� is also offered on a
cash-plus-barter basis by Sony Pictures Television. (Berkus
is a design expert who has been a frequent guest on the
Oprah Winfrey show.)
Another Restaurant Encourages Diners To
Barter Homegrown Goodies
Forage, the newest restaurant in Silver Lake
(Los Angeles area), is encouraging diners to bring homegrown
fruit and vegetables to barter for restaurant credit. Forage
is set up like a cafeteria: diners select from salads, flat
breads and ready dishes on the counter, then carry their
tray to one of the tables in the back of the restaurant.
Media Exposure Mind-Boggling
Jerry Jones�s Cowboy Stadium, home of the
2010 NBA All-Star basketball game, received nearly $1.3
million in media exposure through 15 verbal mentions and
another 72-seconds of specific coverage over TNT-TV on
Valentine�s Day. This was in addition to the televising of
the 2-hour event.
Barter�s Booming In Turkey
Mastafa Demir, director-general of the
Istanbul Barter Exchange, reports that 40 barter companies
have opened in his country within the last two years. (Total
barter companies in Turkey are a reported 60.) According to
Demir, the two major industries where barter occurs in his
country are in the advertising and construction fields.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer...02/09/2010
Consumers Cut Back On Borrowing
Americans
have reduced their borrowing for 11 months in a row. The Fed
said it was the first time consumer borrowing � before
adjusting for inflation � had fallen for that long a period,
since it began keeping track in 1943.
Since its
peak in July 2008, consumer credit has fallen by $125
billion as households put their balance sheets in order.
The New Economic Reality For American Workers
According
to The Wall Street Journal, there�s a new economic
condition in America. Today 20% to 23% of U.S. workers are
operating as consultants, freelancers, free agents,
contractors or micropreneurs. And current projections see
that number continually rising in coming years.
Business Owners Relying On Credit-Card
Financing
A new
survey by the National Small Business Association reports
that 59% of respondents said they had used credit-card
financing for their businesses in the past twelve months, up
from 49% who said they had done so in a December 2008 poll.
Asset-Based Lending Also Growing
Asset-based lending, once considered a last-resort finance
option, has become a popular choice for companies that don�t
have credit ratings, a track record, or patience to pursue
more traditional sources. (Asset-based lenders focus on
collateral, rather than credit-worthiness.)
The
Commercial Finance Association, an industry trade group,
said asset-based lending, excluding mortgages, swelled by
8.3% to almost $600 billion in 2008. The association is
still gathering data on 2009, but preliminary surveys show
double-digit percentage increases in lending.
British Pub Bartering With Patrons
Drinkers
at a Lincolnshire pub can now barter for their pints. The
owner of the pub sees it as a way for his independent
operation to compete with special offers at the larger chain
bars, since he can�t compete on prices.
Carrots,
dead partridges, dishwashing, and offers to help clean and
decorate the pub have been among the bartered items.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer...01/26/2010
One Of Europe�s Fastest Growing Airlines
Signs Barter Deal
Turkey�s
national air carrier, Turkish Airlines, has become the
official sponsor of Spanish football club FC Barcelona. Half
of the sponsorship will be paid in a cash advance, and a
barter agreement covers the remaining 50% of the 2-1/2 year
agreement.
The barter
agreement will include team flights and billboard
advertising inside the Camp Nou soccer stadium.
Restaurant Owner, Savvy Businessman
A newly
opened restaurant in Decatur (GA), the Iberian Pig, is
astutely using barter in a most intelligent way. Thus
keeping much needed cash in their pocket. Owner Federico
Castellucci was able to barter a little less than 50% of the
opening costs. Essentially, financing the opening through
future sales � new business � which will be sent to his
restaurant by the trade exchange he worked with. The new
business (from members of the trade exchange) will be used
to pay off the barter loans Castellucci obtained to cover
his opening costs.
Barter Used To Shore Up Barbados Four Seasons
In a bid
to salvage jobs, the government of Barbados has agreed to
guarantee a $60 million loan from a Caribbean bank to help
restart the luxury Four Seasons resort development on the
tiny island. In return for the guarantee the government will
end up with a 20% stake in the project.
United States Drops In Listings Of �Most
Free� Economies
The United
States is losing ground to its major competitors in the
global marketplace, according to the 2010 Index of Economic
Freedom, released by the Heritage Foundation. Canada now
boasts North America�s most free economy. Here�s a list of
the best free economies in the world in descending order:
1) Hong Kong
2) Singapore
3) Australia
4) New Zealand
5) Ireland
6) Switzerland
7) Canada
8) United States
9) Denmark
10) Chile
Next Time Ask
Test your
negotiating skills next time you need a camera or a
computer. There�s so much competition in this field, all you
need to say is �I�m going to check your competitor� and you
could get 10% off, or more.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer...01/19/2010
Looking To Learn The Barter Business?
Bruce
Makinen, founder and president of Business Trade Exchange (BTE)
in Saginaw (MI), is looking for self-starting individuals
who want to learn the barter business. Openings as �New
Member Recruiters� are available with BTE. Contact Bruce at
1-800-83TRADE.
International Sellers & Buyers Meet Here
Alibaba.com,
a China-based web site, puts buyers and sellers together. In
November the search for second-hand goods saw a 113%
year-on-year increase. Among the most wanted items were
boats, cars, golf carts, and laptops.
Wealthy Investors Leery Of Professionals
A new
survey of investors, those with $5 million or more in
investable assets, conducted by Spectrum Group of Chicago
found that investors now are managing 47% of their assets
with no professional help. The investors may consult
advisors but make their own decisions on about one-third of
their money. They allow advisors to fully handle only 18%.
In other
words, today�s ultra-wealthy are managing the largest parts
of their fortunes themselves, entrusting the investment
industry (wealth-management firms) with only 18� of every
dollar.
Pizza Entrepreneur Doing Just Fine
Papa
John�s pizza-chain founder John Schnatter, 48, has purchased
three units in a new condominium-and-residence complex (St.
Regis Deer Crest Resort) in Utah�s Dear Valley for $23
million.
Schnatter started his pizza business out of a former broom
closet in 1983. Various Papa John units are members of trade
exchanges.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer...01/12/2010
IMS Barter Schedules Annual Shareholder
Meeting
International Monetary Systems (OTCBB:INLM) has announced
that its annual shareholder meeting will be held on
Wednesday, June 17, at the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield
Hotel.
For more
information on IMS see
click
here.
Megatrax Offers To Barter Programming For
Inventory
Megatrax,
a production music library known for its radio programming,
has launched a barter alternative for its television and
cable broadcast clients. They will be offering their
libraries and additional services in exchange for commercial
inventory.
Tradebank International�s Trading Volume Up
11% In 2009
According
to Todd Gerry, Senior Vice President of Tradebank
International, the company�s trading volume was up 11% over
2008, while new account sales saw a 57% increase over the
2008 period.
IRTA Introduces New Web Site
The
International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA) has
launched a new web site, using the latest open source
technology based on a Joomia platform.
For more
information on IRTA
click here.
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From the desk of Bob Meyer...01/05/2010
First Quarter Spending Looks Positive
The Research firm ChangeWave says the first quarter of 2010
will see a surge in consumer spending, as consumer sentiment
and expectations have improved. Consumer electronics
purchases will be the most significant catalyst of the
improvement in buying activity.
Bottomline: The 90-day outlook is as positive and hopeful as
any we�ve seen over the last two years.
Give A Day, Get A Night
Sage Hospitality of offering volunteers free hotel stays or
50% discounts at all 53 Sage hotels. Through March 31,
people who complete eight hours of community service for a
registered 501 � 3 nonprofit organization and bring
documentation to the hotel can take advantage of the offer.
For more information visit
www.giveadaygetanight.com.
Gift Cards For Guns
In Los Angeles people lined up for the annual �gifts for
guns� program. This years program garnered 232 guns, all of
which will be destroyed. Supermarket and retail store
gift-cards were provided in the exchange program. (Since the
program has been underway there has been a drop in
homicides.)
Major Real Estate Developers Offered
Barter-Type Deals
Governors from states around the U.S. are contacting
executives at major companies to convince them to �stay put�
in the state, and for outsiders to relocate to the state.
In the barter-type packages offered are incentives
consisting of millions in low-interest loans, sales tax
relief, tax credits and outright grants for infrastructure
improvements.
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